Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene by recombinant Gordonia alkanivorans RIPI90A

The dszABC genes from newly reported dibenzothiophene biodesulfurizing bacterium, Gordonia alkanivorans RIP190A were cloned and sequenced. The overall nucleotide sequence similarity between the dszABC genes of G. alkanivorans RIP190A and those of Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8 and Gordonia nitida were 83.1% and 83.2%, respectively. A gene transfer system for G. alkanivorans RIP190A was established employing the Escherichia coli-Rhodococcus shuttle vector pRSG43 as suitable cloning vector, resulting in transformation efficiencies up to 1.6 x 10(5) CFUs mu g(-1) plasmid DNA. This stable vector was applied to cloning and efficient expression of the dsz genes under the control of lac promoter. The recombinant strain was able to desulfurize dibenzothiophene in the presence of inorganic sulfate and sulfur-containing amino acids. The maximum desulfurization activity by recombinant resting cells (131.8 mu M 2-hydroxybiphenyl g(dry cell weight)(-1) h(-1)) was increased 2.67-fold in comparison to the highest desulfurization activity of native resting cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.